The Pulse
Sept. 11, 2025

The growing responses to Taproot's listening work in the lead up to October's municipal election reveal that many voters want solutions to homelessness in Edmonton.

Earlier this year, Taproot launched our listening campaign at several in-person and virtual events, as well as posted a 2025 election question on our site. We have been gathering responses ever since, and at last count, more than 900 people have provided them. The listening was built around a simple question: "What issues do you care about as you consider who to vote for in the 2025 municipal election, and why?"

At least 167 of these respondents, or roughly more than 15%, told Taproot they are concerned that Edmontonians are unhoused and social challenges materialize when people lack stable housing. The most common concerns these respondents identified were the safety of housed and unhoused people alike, how the visibility of homelessness can deter people from visiting downtown and other central areas, the need for policing and social programs to be effective, and how essential it is for city council to have a positive relationship with the provincial government to make meaningful change.

The responses Taproot received are filled with emotions. "I live in McCauley, which is the dumping ground of the city for unwanted humans," one respondent said. "What will council and the mayor do to spread this misery throughout Edmonton? Why is McCauley ground zero for misery? Why can't I leave my house without tripping over stoned people? Why can't the city figure out how to help these people transition from the street into helpful, safe communities where they might have a shot at dignity?"

Respondents said the realities of homelessness are demoralizing. "It feels like society isn't working when large numbers are not having their basic needs met," one person said.

"It's heartbreaking and traumatizing," another added.

Taproot respondents were roughly split between expressing a desire for police to be more involved with homeless people and those expressing a desire for police to be less involved. Many in the latter group said addressing the underlying causes of homelessness could be a solution. "Prioritizing the safety of the city's most vulnerable populations (matters to me) — because people's lives are important, and because it costs way less to provide upstream solutions than it does to send out first responders to address the symptoms," a respondent said. "I want elected officials to divest from policing and move funds into community safety and supports, homelessness prevention, addiction support, and supportive and transitional housing."

Many who answered Taproot's election question said that, though homelessness is a provincial responsibility, it's still a municipal election issue in 2025. Numerous respondents said candidates who can build bridges with the province, while still championing the city, will win their vote. "We need provincial support now," one said. "It's clear to Edmontonians that our relationship with the premier and her cabinet is frayed and tense. We need a mayor whose vision appeals to provincial governance without bowing to it. Someone who can make issues like housing for people struggling with addiction and poverty and socioeconomic disadvantages worth investing in. That's who we need."

Taproot has worked to contextualize the current council's work on homelessness ahead of the Oct. 20 vote. This work included our Housing Complex series (where, among many things, we examined how Edmonton's work to tackle its challenges compare to other cities in North America and globally), analysis of city reports (which show that one in eight homes in Edmonton cannot afford their housing), and a synopsis of council actions, from declaring a homelessness emergency, nearly being sued for its city-directed dismantling of encampments, to the use of zoning reform and sales of public land to increase Edmonton's supply of attainable housing.

• Edmonton city councillors have asked staff to explore more regulations for short-term rentals, such as those listed on Airbnb and VRBO. Councillors voted against a city report recommending no additional rules, seeking further regulations to address Edmonton's housing shortage and create a more equitable market with hotels. This comes after a 2024 motion that mandated business licences for short-term rentals, increasing licences by 70%. City administration will return with findings within a year.
• Construction on a school in Edgemont and a school in Rosenthal, both in west Edmonton, has paused after Alberta Infrastructure identified soil stability concerns during testing in February and March. This will delay construction timelines for the Rosenthal school by up to 18 months, and the Edgemont school's completion date is now "to be determined." Edmonton Public Schools officials noted accelerated approvals contributed to the issue, impacting efforts to accommodate rapidly increasing student enrolment. Ground improvement work is underway at Edgemont and will begin at Rosenthal in spring 2026.
• The Alberta Teachers' Association issued a province-wide strike notice on Sept. 10, setting Oct. 6 as the potential date for job action if negotiations with the Teachers' Employer Bargaining Association remain unresolved. Union President Jason Schilling said teachers "have had enough" of underfunding, lack of resources, and stagnant salaries. Members voted 99% in May to authorize a strike. The two sides will resume negotiations, but the strike notice aims to give parents and the province time to plan for disruptions if a deal isn't reached.
• Edmonton's Wellington Bridge, a major thoroughfare in the Glenora neighbourhood, will shut down for construction starting Sept. 15. The closure is expected to affect traffic in the area.
• The Ukrainian National Federation of Canada office in the McCauley neighbourhood expressed frustration over public disorder. The organization highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by residents and groups in the area.
• An unnamed woman pleaded guilty to manslaughter on Sept. 10 in an Edmonton courtroom for the 2023 death of an eight-year-old girl. The girl, who went missing from Edmonton in April 2023, was found dead in Maskwacis, about 80 kilometres south of the city. An autopsy revealed chronic child abuse and blunt force trauma to the head as the cause of death. The Edmonton Police Service sent a letter to provincial officials, calling the manslaughter plea a "significant miscarriage of justice," a step acting executive director Megan Hankewich called extraordinary.
• Edmonton Public Schools says it is complying with Alberta's new book ban and sports rules. The school division is implementing provincial government directives that include restrictions on books and new regulations for athletic activities within its schools.
• St. Albert Transit will discontinue paper commuter passes after October 2025, requiring all commuter riders to use Arc cards starting November 2025. While local paper passes remain available, free Arc cards can be obtained at St. Albert City Hall and Liggett Place. This change does not increase prices.
• Recovery Alberta is warning of a rise in carfentanil overdoses, as the synthetic opioid increases in Edmonton. From January to May, carfentanil was involved in 78% of Edmonton's opioid deaths, up from 17% in 2024, and accounted for 88% of all carfentanil-related deaths across Alberta during that period. The agency said people should assume illicit drugs in Edmonton contain this extremely dangerous substance.

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• Seniors' Day starting at 11am at University of Alberta Botanic Garden
• From Avoidance to Approachable: Strategies to Approach Conflict Confidently starting at 11am online
• Wild Mushroom Walks starting at 2pm at University of Alberta Botanic Garden
• Edmonton region export meet-up starting at 3:30pm at The Common
• 124 Grand Market: Thursdays at 108 starting at 4pm
• Rolling into Autumn Networking Event starting at 5pm at Craft Beer Market
• September Social starting at 5:30pm at Campio Brewing Co.
• Student TNT co-hosted by Front Row Ventures and eHUB starting at 6pm at Pub 1905
• Sherwood Park Better Together Town Hall starting at 6:30pm at Sherwood Park Community Hall (Log Cabin)
• Wine Dinner with Agricola Querciabella starting at 6:30pm at RGE RD

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• Sept. 13: A City for Life - Community Conversation on Inclusive Transportation at Centennial Centre for Interdisciplinary Science
• Sept. 20: Civida Housing Foundation Stars Awards Gala at Art Gallery of Alberta
• Sept. 25: ECAMP Trivia Night: Elections Edition at The Canadian Brewhouse (Edmonton North)

Visit the beta version of the Taproot Edmonton Calendar for many more events in the Edmonton region.

Test your crossword prowess and deploy a little of your Edmonton knowledge. Complete the puzzle.

Taproot's Regional Roundup could help you out with a couple of these clues!